Everybody loves nature, right? That is why many of us live here.

Consider, for example, the beauty of nature. What sight could be more appealing than the Mill Pond, West Tisbury’s crown jewel, right there in public for all to see on the west end of the Edgartown Road. Artists paint it, photographers snap away, poets sing its praise. I once owned a T-shirt with a watercolor painting of the mill pond, complete with a swan and the name of the town. I bought it at the fair many years ago and I wore it until it disintegrated. So pretty.

But what lurks beneath? Scientists and some town board members have been telling town meeting for years about the unhealthy, unnatural, anti-nature state of disarray beneath the surface of that pond. So far, their words have fallen on deaf ears, mine included.

But I have changed my mind, sort of. I mean, demolishing the pond is an idea that is alien to my sensibilities and possibly yours. If one of the ponds along the stream were part of my back yard I would strongly defend the status quo. But I was decidedly influenced by Nelson Sigelman’s recent opinion piece in the Gazette. There were also news reports last week covering a talk at the library by the biologist Julie Pringle, entomologist Greg Whitmore and comments from other scientific professionals, including Beth Lambert, director of the state’s Division of Ecological Restoration. As a result, I have been convinced that the pond’s dams and impoundments are choking what nature meant to be a pure cold water stream. The pond simply needs to be unbound, unplugged, and be set free.

A group hoping to sustain the beauty of the Mill Pond will offer talks and an exhibit at the library. The program begins Saturday, March 8, at 4 p.m. with an address by museum historian Bow Van Riper. A number of painters and photographers will display their views of the allure of the pond on the walls of the community room. The pictures, which I am sure will be lovely, may be the most permanent way to preserve that elegance.

Town meeting this year promises to be a long and feisty two-nighter.

I was sorry to hear this past week of the deaths of several active and well-known local women. Linda McGuire was a founder and volunteer at the Dumptique, and, before moving here full-time, had worked as an actress and professional chef.

Karen Magid loved and cared for horses. Karen operated Red Pony Farm until 2018 when she sold the farm and moved to Europe.

Barbara Murphy taught Spanish at the high school and was named volunteer of the year in 2013 by Meals on Wheels for her years of dedication.

Among the vacation week travelers who arrived back home last weekend are Bruce and Jenn Haynes with their daughters Lily and Hannah. Jenn has just retired from volunteering as an up-Island EMT for more than 20 years. The family spent the week in the Colorado Rocky Mountains sledding and playing in the snow, soaking in a hot springs pool and discovering a full-grown moose outside their log cabin window.

Many happy birthday returns to the stone artist Lew French on March 9. Happy birthday wishes to Isla Solon March 11. And on March 15 to Jib Ellis, Tammy Hersh and Lily Kerne.